The Marine Mollusca of the Bay ofAlgeciras, Spain, with general notes on Mitrella, Marginellidae, and Turridae

A short and inadequate description of this publication would be that it lists 393 species of Mollusca (out of 629 known from the area) collected by the first two authors from shell-sand from Algeciras Bay, 203 of which had not been recorded there before, and seven of which are described as new species. This in itself would make it a significant addition to our knowledge of the malacofauna of S.W. Iberia, but there is also a wealth of useful supplementary information. Over 220 of the species listed are illustrated, mostly as superb SEM photographs; 208 figures show gastropods and 18 bivalves, the unbalanced split being because the latter appear to present fewer problems. These illustrations, selected to show new or rarely illustrated species, are a major strength of the paper and make it a worthwhile buy for them alone.

Comments are provided on most of the species listed; these are generally very helpful, particularly on distinguishing features, and include relevant references with emphasis on recent illustrations. Some, however, like 'a common European cockle species' could have been left out without detriment to the value of the work. There is little indication of approximately how much material of the various species was found.

As a consequence of working shell-sand the new taxa have been described from shells alone (as fossils are) with no data on animals or habitat; this is something of a pity, particularly in the case of Hydrohia joossei which is presumably a brackish or freshwater species. Descriptions of the shells of the new taxa are adequate though dimension are given as ranges and the only measurements of types refer to those illustrated. Also, it is not clear what specimen was used to illustrate the new species Alvania attenai, Gibberuta janseni and Cypraeolina vanhareni; it would be helpful if the authors could clarify this point for the benefit of later workers on these molluscs.

The general notes are valuable collations of the authors' literature searches, examinations of types, and conclusions (for example: nomination of a lectotypc for Gibberuia recondita Monterosato, 1884) which would form a useful base for later revisions. They cover Mitrella worldwide, east Atlantic and Mediterranean Marginellidae and the Raphitoma/Philbertia complex in the Turridae. In the last case the authors'judgement on the identity of the type species of Raphitoma Bellardi, 1847 is sensible and no one is ever likely to get nearer to what the truth was, though whether the protoconch alone is a sufficient character on which to separate turrid genera is questionable despite its being so used in the past.

Minor errors, typographical or otherwise are few indeed. I am grateful to Mr Tom Pain FLS for pointing out that Phyllonotus tmnculus (page 35) should be Hexaplex trunculus; Phyllonotus is a New World genus. The new species Odostomia kromi is omitted from the abstract.

In sum, this is a valuable publication and thoroughly recommended to all interested in east Atlantic and Mediterranean Mollusca. It is obtainable from the: Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging, c/o Dr. H. E. Coomans, P.O. Box 20125, NL-1000 HC AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands. The price is Hfl 30 plus Hfl 5 postage, Hfl 35 in all, to be paid in advance either to Post Office Giro 28 80 32, the Hague in the name of 'Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging' or direct by postal order to the Hon. Treasurer of the Society, Dr. A. C. van Bruggen, Terweeweg 1 A, NL-2341 CL Oegstgeest, The Netherlands.